Norman Powell has embraced his role as the Los Angeles Clippers’ primary scorer and will get a chance to showcase his form against his former team when the Toronto Raptors visit Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday.
With Kawhi Leonard sidelined this season due to a knee injury and Paul George now with the Philadelphia 76ers, Powell has stepped up, averaging a career-best 25.7 points per game.
Powell led the Clippers with 31 points in a 107-98 road victory against the Sacramento Kings on Friday. James Harden added 22 points, and Ivica Zubac contributed 13 points and 15 rebounds. This marked the third time Powell scored 30 or more points in a game this season, as the Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-best three games.
Powell was averaging 19.6 points over the first 42 games of the 2020-21 season with the Raptors before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. After their one-game road trip to Sacramento, the Clippers return to their new arena, where they have won two consecutive games after losing the first four. Los Angeles recently defeated the San Antonio Spurs and 76ers at home.
The Raptors come to the Los Angeles area after losing the first two games of their five-game road trip. After facing the Clippers on Saturday, they will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Toronto lost 122-107 at Sacramento on Wednesday, despite RJ Barrett scoring 23 points and Davion Mitchell adding 20. Chris Boucher contributed 17 points off the bench, while Immanuel Quickley (pelvic contusion), Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture), Garrett Temple (back), and Kelly Olynyk (back) were sidelined.
The Raptors led 93-89 through three quarters by shooting 54.4 percent from the floor and holding the Kings to 42.9 percent. However, they were outscored 33-14 in the fourth quarter, shooting just 30 percent while Sacramento shot 60 percent.
In his first full season with his hometown Raptors, following a trade from the New York Knicks last December, Barrett has taken charge with averages of 25.7 points, 7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds.
Second-year player Gradey Dick averages 20 points per game, while Jakob Poeltl is contributing 15.0 points and a team-best 11.4 rebounds. Barnes averaged 19.3 points over the first four games before his injury.
Rookie reserves Jonathan Mogbo (hip) and Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) both sustained injuries against the Kings. Mogbo was listed as probable on the game injury report, while Walter aggravated a previous shoulder injury and will be out for at least a week.
